Are we loving our beach camping destinations to death?

OPINION: It's a fine line between loving something and loving it to death.

It's the battle we're facing as we speak, as thousands flock to the likes of Noosa North Shore, Double Island Point, Inskip Point and Fraser Island to embark on camping holidays.

Tourism industry insiders are saying a desire to disconnect from the ever-increasing digital world and get back to old-fashioned family values is driving part of the camping resurgence.

For those looking to switch off for a week or two, their noble motives should be applauded.

But we also need to remember how precious and precarious some of these popular beach camping sites are.

Perhaps we need to change our behaviours a bit.

Reader poll

Should further restrictions be introduced to protect beachside campgounds?

This poll ended on 11 January 2018.

Current Results

Yes, or we'll ruin the place we're coming to enjoy.

51%

No, but authorities should crack down on irresponsible campers.

47%

The beaches can cope with the current situation.

1%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

Is there a need to head up the beach every holiday?

Why not share it around, head to the hinterland camp spots some years and then the beach others.

It's simplistic, but if even a quarter of us could do that it might just ease some pressure on the beaches, while also spreading around the economic benefit of tourism to other regions.

The solution is not easy.

Capping visitor numbers on the beaches won't be a solution accepted easily by many.

But as the Surfrider Foundation teams continue to pick up tonnes and tonnes of waste off these stretches after each holiday break, we have to start asking the hard questions if future generations are going to enjoy the same beach getaways we have.